ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued a warning Monday after a recent report from the Federal Trade Commission about a new imposter scam.
According to the FTC, callers claiming to be from Medicare are asking people for their Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal information in exchange for free DNA testing kits.
“There is no limit to the lengths scam artists will go to try and steal your hard-earned money," Patronis said in a news release. "Unfortunately, imposter scams are prevalent, and in 2018 alone consumers reported losing nearly $488 million nationwide."
Patronis said scammers prey on trust and often call claiming to be someone you know or a government agency to convince you to send them money or give away personal information.
“Always verify if the person calling you is who they say they are," Patronis said. "Never share your personal information over the phone and stay up-to-date on the latest scam and fraud tactics."
Here are three tips to avoid imposter scams: